1novels Chapter 73 The Kingdom's Plan
Chapter 73 The Kingdom's Plan
"First of all, the nation certainly won't force them to retire. However, the positions and benefits the nation has arranged for them must be changed in the future. After all, their combat capabilities have been severely reduced due to their injuries. If they are still forced to continue doing their previous frontline work, it's not fair to say whether they can handle it or not, and it's also inappropriate to continue receiving the same high salaries as before."
Qingluan frowned slightly.
"But they became like this to protect the country. Now you're suggesting reassigning them or cutting their salaries? Isn't that just a disguised way of reducing their benefits?"
"No, no, no, you misunderstood. Demotion doesn't mean there's no compensation."
The emerald scepter immediately shook its head and explained, "So, we'll give them extra money! War compensation and such will continue to be distributed at a greater pace. However, regarding the issue of magical girl status, we have a bottom line for the nation—if they want to maintain their magical girl status, they must work. Even magical girls who have made contributions in the interdimensional war cannot simply take money without doing any work and hold a sinecure in the nation. That's our bottom line."
Hearing this, Qingluan remained silent. Because of this, Qingluan truly couldn't refute it.
As the leader of the organization, she was well aware that there should never be too many idle positions within an organization. "Where the Stars Are" would never tolerate those who shirk their responsibilities of protection.
"Okay. So what's your specific plan? Since you don't want them to work on the front lines, but you still want them to do the work, they need somewhere to go, right?"
Seeing that Qingluan didn't dwell on this point, the emerald scepter smiled with satisfaction: "Well, regarding this, we will send these injured magical girls to work in the material world."
"Go to work in the material world?" Qingluan was taken aback.
"That's right. Although their strength has decreased due to damage to their original forms, as senior magical girls, their combat experience and skills are still there. They can serve as instructors to guide the newly awakened magical girls in the material world."
"Besides, most of the remnants that spawn in the cities of the material world aren't very strong. Even injured magical girls can generally handle the job. If they're too badly injured to handle even the lowest level of combat, we can arrange for them to be nominal staff members at the 'Otherworldly Strategy Bureau' in the material world, doing clerical and administrative work. That should work, right?"
Although this could be considered a resettlement plan, Qingluan felt something was off about it: "The more you talk about it... the more it sounds like exile to me?"
Sending all the half-crippled magical girls who can't stay in the kingdom to the material world... isn't that just kicking them out?
"How can you call it exile! This is clearly strengthening the defenses of your material world!"
With her hands shrugged, the emerald scepter proclaimed, "Commander, as the guardian of the material world, you certainly wouldn't refuse troops offered to you, would you? And rest assured, the kingdom will absolutely not use this opportunity to reduce the number of active-duty magical girls originally assigned to guard the material world. The addition of veterans is simply a one-sided strengthening of the material world's military force."
It turned out to be the case.
Qingluan considered it in her mind. If that were the case, not only would there be no loss for the material world, but it would also gain a group of experienced senior magical girls as instructors to provide support. It didn't seem like a bad thing at all.
"Of course, there are definitely those spoiled types who are attached to life in the country and absolutely refuse to go to the material world."
The emerald scepter added.
"If they really don't want to go to the material world, then we'll give them more money so they can stay and live in the kingdom. In short, there's nothing that money can't solve. But even if we do that, the magical girl's power will still have to be taken back."
The emerald scepter pushed the finished parfait cup aside and made a summary.
"Actually, this is the exact opposite of the usual magical girl retirement system. If you want to stay in the country and enjoy a better life, you can't retain your magical girl status without doing anything. If you want to retain your magical girl status, you have to contribute to the material world."
"In other words, these magical girls will no longer be subject to the restriction that 'retaining their magical girl status requires joining the kingdom.' Of course, we welcome these magical girls who go to the material world to continue contributing to the kingdom if they wish to return in the future. However, at that time, they will be considered retired and will need to relinquish their magical girl powers."
The plan is indeed comprehensive. Simply put, it returns the choice to the magical girls themselves. If you only crave the youth and transcendent status of a magical girl, then you naturally don't care where you go on your mission. If you want a life of luxury in a magical kingdom, then whether or not you become a magical girl is irrelevant.
This not only solved the problem of redundant personnel within the country, but also soothed the emotions of the injured magical girl.
Qingluan probably understood the core strategy of this negotiation.
"I understand the plan."
Qingluan nodded slightly, but she quickly noticed the problem. "But in the plan you just mentioned, no matter which option they choose, the country will have to spend a lot more money to pay them pensions or retirement compensation, right?"
The emerald scepter nodded, then rested its chin on its hand: "That's right, that's the second problem. To be honest, the kingdom is truly broke right now. Not only are there no compensation payments for forced retirements, but also no pensions for the families of the magical girls who sacrificed their lives; they simply can't come up with a single penny."
Qingluan almost spat out her breath—
"You made such nice promises... but what's the point if the country is broke? A promise you can't keep... isn't that just empty talk?"
Faced with Qingluan's questioning, the emerald scepter remained completely unfazed, instead revealing a smug smile. "Commander, you're overcomplicating things. Money, frankly speaking, is just paper, isn't it? If we don't have money... we can just print more, can't we?"
"……hehe."
Upon hearing these outrageous remarks, Qingluan suddenly realized that she had seriously underestimated the shamelessness of the nation.
"You want to flood the market with money?! If you dare to do that, prices in the magical kingdom will definitely skyrocket. Are the kingdom's leaders really that irresponsible?"
Although Qingluan opposed the kingdom, she also understood that such behavior would undoubtedly cause a huge economic impact, and in the end, it would be the ordinary people of the kingdom who would pay the price.
Seeing Qingluan's angry expression, the emerald scepter remained unmoved. She took another parfait from the side and placed it in front of her, then picked up a spoon, scooped up a piece of ice cream, and put it in her mouth.
"That's right, we're going to release water. But who told you that the water printed out would flood our magical kingdom?"